davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
A New Thing In Safe Locks.

A new electric Formulation safe lock
mas Just been patented by Chicagoan,
which differs materially from all other
safe locks in the fact that there is no ori-
flee to speak of in the door of the safe.
The dial, which is such q conspicuous feat
ure on the ordinary safe, has no connec-
ton i'm this invention, except by electric
wires, with the body of the safe, and may
lie on the cashiers desk or repose securely
in his home, free from any possible vio-
lence of the burglars hammer.
There is, in fact, no limit to the dis
lance that may intervene between the dial
and the safe lock, granted that the con-
nection is satisfactory and the battery suf-
ficiently strong. A safe might perfectly
well rest in a Chicago Office and only be
opened by means of a dial I'm New York.
The mechanism is very simple. The dial
rests in q magnetic block, from which
wires extend and communicate with mag
nets which set up the tumblers in the
lock, and 30 permit Of the throwing back
of the bolt bar. This releases a spring or
body of compressed air, as the case may
be, which in turn releases the heavy bolt
work. The wires penetrate the top plate
of the safe at the jamb of the door and
move in a zig-Zag course through the
inner plates to the lock. The wires are
so small and their course so crooked that,
1t is claimed, they cannot be traced by ex-
plosives. A current of electricity is OBJ
tanned from several small batteries by
pressing down key on the vulcanite
block that holds the dial. The dial, when
not in use, can be detached from the vul-
canite block and carried in the pocket.
The door of n safe whose lock Is controlled
by this electric apparatus will present to
the burglar none of the spindles which
penetrate the walls of the ordinary safe
and yield so conveniently to the influences
of the blowpipe, but simply knob for
opening the door, which only penetrates
the first plate. Call.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Reasons for weathercoeks.

Why should cocks figure ON the top Of
steeples? Christians connect the custom
with the reproach the cock once conveyed
to ST. Peter. But the cock used to be
placed on the tops of sacred trees long be-
fore it was transferred to church steeples,
and in north Germany it still stands upon
the May poles. 1t was partly Waterman
and partly q weather prophet, and by its
Growing it could disperse evil spirits and
all approaching calamities. Its life was
sacred in India and Persia, and Cicero
speaks of the ancients regarding the kill
ing of a cock as a crime equal in blackness
to the suffocation of father. Our
weathercocks are doubtless the survivals
of the old ideas; though the solar
mythologists trace all these things to the
use of domestic fowls as obvious personifi-
cations of the sun, so that "the pearl
which the fowl searches for in the dung
hill is naught else but its own egg, and the
egg of the hen in the sky is the sun itself, +"
and "the hen of the fable and fairy tales
which lays golden eggs is the mythical hen
(the earth or the sky which gives birth
every day to the sum-" One can scarcely
conceive anything more absurd, and t
would be interesting to know how, on
solar principles, would be explained the
Tyrolese custom OF not letting black hen
live for seven years lest she should then
lay an egg, out of which might issue a
dragon destined to live a hundred years.
Gentleman's Magazine.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
"samplers" In the markets.

But even the best of the women have
some bad tricks, though. have friend
over near the middle Of the market who
keeps cheese stand. The way the sam
piers used to swoop down on him was a
caution. Lots of women used to snake q
piece of pickle from our stand and q
cracker from another, and then get sam
pie of cheese from him, and make lunch
good deal freer than any saloon in New
York would dare to set. The cheese man
has pretty well put an end to that business
now, however He began to charge for
every sample he cut, putting it down on
the bill whenever he had one, or asking
for 1t when he hadn't. It rather startled
O good many worthy danes who had been
making a meal free of charge to be
charged five cents for a little bit of cheese
but 1t has had good effect and stopped
the practice at one stall anyway. OF
course these women had no idea of being
dishonest, but they all think that the
market men are gang of conscienceless
sharpcrs, and if they can get ahead of
them in any way, it's good thing. Stall
keeper In New York Commercial Adver-
tiSar
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
wavs of Amerioan Yachtmen

One of the most prominent members of
the New York Yacht club hove up at once
with the remark that:
american yachtmen are becoming as
set and immovable in their scruples and
prejudices as the most rabid sons of Great
Britain. Whether it has anything to do
with the prevailing craze Of Anglomania
or not cannot say, but il Is there just the
same. The most steadfast and vigorous
efforts on the part of the wide awake
yachting men of America toward having
the races for the America cup occur in the
spring instead of the fall have failed again.
Because the races have always been held
in the fall, they insist on continuing to
hold them at the same time of the year,
although the contests nearly all resolve
themselves into drifting matches, and are
unsatisfactory alike to yachtmen and spec
tators. If the rule were Changed now in
the face of precedent and the race held in
the spring, it would give us another year
to get ready for the Scotchman's boat
which You may mark my word will be q
cUpper-and we would thus be sure of
having brisk winds and races fair to all
corners. New York Cor. Pioneer Press.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25

The abundance of the salt formations
IN Nevada is illustrated by tine fact that
in Lincoln county there is deposit OF
pure rock salt which is exposed for q
length of two miles, width OF half a
mile. and is of unknown depth; in
places canons are cut through it TO q
depth of sixty feet. and not only has the
deposit been traced on the surface for a
distance of nine miles, but it is so solid
in places as to require blasting like
rock. and SO pure aud transparent that
print can be read through blocks of il
some inches thick. In Churchill
county there il said to be a deposit of
rock salt some fourteen feet in depth.
free from any article Of foreign sub
stance. and which can be quarried at
the rate of five tons day to the man.
What is known as the great Humboldt
salt field is estimated to be some fifteen
miles long by six wide. According to
the description, when the summer heats
have evaporated the surface water, salt
to the depth of several inches may be
scraped up, and underneath there is q
stratum Of rock salt Of the purest
description and Of . dapah aaknowA
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
NUMBER SO


In all times decorative needle-work
seems to have been highly esteemed as
an employment for women of the upper
classes. In very early days, says the
Magazine of Art. knightly families sent
their daughters to the castle of their
suzerain lords to learn to weave. spin,
and embroider; and we find records
that teachcrs of embroidery took very
high salaries. During the times of the
Wars of the Roses ladies of high degree,
reduced through the fortunes of war.
earned their living by executing and
teaching embroidery. Men, however,
seem to have been as skillful with the
needle as women in medieval times,
and there are records of embrOideries
executed by monks as well as by nuns;
while we know that the wonderful EN-
broideries preserved in San Giovanni,
in Florence, were the work of man.
At the court of Isabel la Catolica regu-
lar trials of needle-work were held. and
Catherine of Aragon brought with her
from her mothers court all the skill in
needle-work for which she was famous
there; and in the long years of her
trouble and desertion she taught en-
broidery and lace-making both to her
women and the poor around her.
The Spanish stitch introduce by her
into needle-work seems TO have been
that kind OF ''laid" work for which
Spain has always been famous, frequent
ly done in black silk upon white
ground, with gold introduced. 1t is
very possible that she also taught the
stuffed gold work known as basket
stitch, which also seems to have been
largely practiced in Spain, and is, in
fact, still executed in that country.
Fresh varieties were introduced again
by the unfortunate Mary Queen OF
Scots, learned in France and practiced
in the time of her imprisonment. Prob.
ably by her was begun that curious and
elaborate work consisting wholly or
chiefly of point-lace stitches. Some OF
the embroideries of this period are ex-
tremely beautiful. and are treasures OF
stitches for the instruction of modern
workers.
No trouble was spared in perfecting the
most minute details. In some cases we
find pea pods in which, while the closed
pod itself is worked in the finest point
lace stitch, the peas which it contains,
although never destined to be seen, are
quite as carefully and deliberately work.
ed. About the same time, or little
later, and lasting on with it through
the Stuarts 10 Queen Anne's time, came
in the heavily embroidered bed furni.
ture, worked with worsted upon twilled
cotton, in which the filings we're SC
often also point-lace stitches.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Gen. Grant and the Interviewer.

Gen. Grant had a strong aversion to being
interviewed, in tho newspaper sense OF the
word An incident occurred in Syracuse
during the presidential campaign Of 1880
which first revealed to the writer the genial
side of Grants nature. The ex-president and
Senator Conkling we're just bringing to a
close their famous series of campaign meet
ings for Garfield and Arthur. A correspond
emit who had accompanied them on their tour
through this state ventured TO ask Mr..
Conkling i'm Gen. Grants presence for his
opinion as to Garfeids chances of carrying
New York. With aggravating sarcasm Mr..
Conkling begged TO be excused from making
guesses for the delectation Of the general
public" Gen. Grant looked at Mr.. Conkling
steadily for few seconds and then re.
marked to the correspondent in half apollo.
getic tone. "The senator does not seem to have
his guessing cap on this morning. ], how.
ever, do not object to hazarding guess or
two on the result Of this campaign. guess
that this state will 60 for Garfield and Ar.
thur by good handsome majority. And
with mischievous side glance at Conkling)
you may also say that I guess that Senator
Conkling guesses so to."-New York Times.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
EDUCATION FORTY YEARS AGO.
Difficulties OF Environment In Pioneer
Iimes-Studxinx NV Eireli1ht.

Difficulties OF Environment In Pioneer
Times-studying by freight.
at is fortunate thing" said an old
resident the other day, ''that the death of
Logan has turned public attention to the
school in which he imbibed the principles
of patriotism and the fundamental idea of
personal integrity. Difficulties thrown in
the way of a boy developed the qualities
that made the stubborn, aggressive and
persistent man. The difficulties Of en-
vironment in pioneer times made Of boy
who had the material to build on the very
best kind of q man. In the city latent
qualities of the severest type Of manliness
may not be developed In the boy because
there Is nothing to call for their mani
festation.
"Not many children now prize an edu-
cation as we did in the olden times, and
not many are excited to that enthusiasm
that made the poor country boy fanatic
In the matter of gaining information. j
can remember when / was boy of or
10 of taking my little wagon with its
wheels cut out of a thick plank, home
made in every particular; I remember OF
going with this little wagon half mile to
where the bark had fallen from the rails
along a fence, and Of gathering this bark
and hauling it home to make light every
night that might study or read. The
idea that boy should have candle by
which to pursue his studies was not
thought of.
.'This handling of the bark was my own
idea, and my own venture entirely. After
supper, or after the cooking utensils had
been removed from the big fireplace, / car
ried in my load of bark, and would put
piece after piece on the Goals, as needed, to
make light for my reading have al
ways felt sympathy for w. D. Howells,
because his old father told me years ago
that the man who is now the leading nov
elist in America was in the habit of doing
much the same thing, and that the most of
the reading and study that fitted Howells
for his first work in literature was done
by freight.
"That was not more than forty or forty
five years ago, and yet in a good many
houses in the farming regions of Ohio and
Indiana, to say nothing of Illinois, COM
paratively few candles were burned. There
was, of course, at that time no kerosene
or inexpensive oil for lamps. The lamp
in common use was a shallow iron cup,
with u pitcher sort of a mouth, into which
was put lard or meat fryings, and mar
row strip of cotton or linen cloth. This
typical lamp of the olden times was stuck
in a crack between the logs, or hung on q
nail, and if the lard was not too salty it
gave a fair light, but for the purposes Of
study the freight was better. Inter
Ocean ''Curbstone Crayons."
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Enumeration or EncIi,b Rabb,,,.

The rage for anything that is eng
lish, YOU KNOW" has at last developed It
self In the Importation of English rabbits,
to propagate at large in order to afford
sport for fastidious hunters, for whom the
familiar American cotton tail is not good
enough. The popularity of the foreign
game is that it burrows in the ground and
escapes, or, at least, hides from its enc
mics in subterranean warrens, a habit
which the more straightforward American
species do not possess The depredations
OF the former upon the crops and pastures
of farmers occasion very serious losses in
England, and in Australia have caused the
sheep husbandmen to expend very large
sums of money for the protection of their
ranges. -San Francisco Chronicle.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
All Right, De Soto.

One day last week an old man with bald
head, and obviously with a drink or two
slowed away i'm the place where drink does
an old man the most good, boarded Van
Buren, street car and looked around for q
seat. OF course he found none, and, on ap-
pealing to the conductor, was told that he
would be able to find him one by the time the
car reached Western avenue.
"All right, De Solo, replied the aged pas
senger.
The conductor finished his fare taking and
resumed bis perch on the rear brake, but the
old mans words kept ringing in his ears.
"tAll right, De Sotoi All right, De Sotor
What the thunder did he mean by thatF'
the conductor asked himself, and he finally
became so worked up about 1t that he went
in and asked the old man what it was he had
been giving him.
.Oh," said the delighted old party, with q
chuckle, 'in 1853, when the first Atlantic
cable was laid, they got few words across,
you remember. One Of the messages which
came from Valencia, Ireland, in response to
an inquiry how the wire was working, was:
All right, De Solo, De Soto was the opera
tors name, you know, and, by gosh, that was
the last word they did get through that old
cable before she went back on I'M completely.
For months that was all you could hear in
this country. 1t was in every mans mouth.
Whenever we wanted to say that thing was
all right, when in fact it was all wrong, we'd
say, .All right, De Solo, seea That was what
meant when you told me I'd get q seat at
Western avenue. know that this car doesn't
run any further, and so do you, you young
scoundrelf-Chicago Herald
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
The Dscav,np House of Lords.

A striking estimate Of the probable
duration of the existence Of the house OF
lords was given by Lord Napier of Mag,
dala to the tallow chambers. ''As long,
said his lordship, ''as the house of lords
numbers among its members such men as
Lord Beaconsfeld, Lord Tennyson and
Lord Shaftesbury believe it will continue
to retain the confidence of the British
people" AS the house no longer numbers
among its members Lord Beaconsfield oil
Lord Shaftesbury, it appears that in Lord
Napier's estimation it has already lost
two-thirds of the confidence of the people,
and If the other third is to be measured by
the attendance of Lord Tennyson, the
light of the house Of lords must be waxing
almost as dim as that shed by the tallow
chambers themselves.-London Truth.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Paper. Pens and Pencils.

In a communication to one of the scien-
tific journals, on the subject of paper and
the industries connected with it, M. De
Boutarel presents some valuable data
showing the great increase in the quantity
of pens, paper, pencils, ETC., manufactured
in Europe and the United States alone
According to this authority, the produ,
ton of paper, which at the beginning of
the century was practically nothing in the
United States, some time since amounted
to SOC, 900 tons per annum, and this guam
tity is just doubled in Europc-the value
of the straw, rags and other materials used
in the manufacture of the paper being
about 800, 600, 900. The value of all this
paper, when manufactured, is estimated
at $500, 900, 600. The value of the steel
to be not less than 81, 900, 000.-New York
Gun
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Hickory Soles.

"What did you have your soles driven
full of pegs for2'' asked a gentleman Of a
high kicking friend.
"They are not pegs" was the reply.
''They are next thing to wooden soles.
What wood you seeOn the bottom of my
foot is hickory driven into wet sole leather.
It is new device. The object is to give
durability and warmth. The wear on the
soles comes upon thc end Of the woods
grains as it does upon Nichols on pave
ment, and is therefore low."-Philadel-
phia Times-Star.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
villain, with Light Ewes and Hair

"Why is it that stage villains are always
represented with black eyes, black hair
and fierce black mustaches?" remarked q
young man who has recently returned
from the rowdy west 81 have spent a
couple of years among the cowboys of the
plains and have seen many of the most
noted desperadoes I'm that frontier country.
1t has been my observation, and have
heard others say the same thing, that these
desperate men are nearly always blondes
fellows with light hair, light mustache
and light blue eyes. Some of the most
desperate characters I have ever seen were
small in stature and quiet looking. The
male brunette has, 1 think, been un-
necessarily slandered by the make up of
the melodramatic villain. louisville
POST
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
u.Iooked the Fart WelI.

Young Man ITO western young lady)-Yaas,
I'm member of tho Hare and Hounds club,
y'know. At last meet l was one OF the
hares
Western Young Lady-What do you mean
by hare. mr. Sissy.
Young Mau--They are called rabbits In
this country, l believe.
Western young Lady-ob. yes, those swee,
little animals with such long ears. How
-IIarper's Bazaar.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
An Ingenious method.

Mr.. L. Tietjens, of Stassfurt, Germany,
has recently patented an ingenious
method of damming back the flow of
water in shafts, by the application of the
their volume very materially by the alb
sorbing of water Of capitalization in hard
ening To accomplish this he takes either
calcined soda, anhydrous alum, kieserite,
or oxychl0ride of magnesium, mixes them
into paste, and then Immediately injects
them through suitably arranged pipe
into the assures through which the water
flows. 1t is said that as this paste
hardens 1t swells enough to I'LL all the in
tcrstices of the rock and to render it water
tight.-English Mechanic.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
EloWera of NORWAY.

The roofs of many of the houses are
covered with turf for warmth, and you
see upon them frequently quite a garden
of flowers which have sprung up. Some
times there are even small trees. Many
of the flowers in Norway remind one, as
indeed the whole landscape frequently
does, of New England. You see the dan
delion. the buttercup, the gentian and va
rious other familiar flowers in the fields.
In their windows, both in town and
country, the Norwegians have a wealth
of flowers that sets you wondering how
they can raise them in such beauty and
profusion. presume the absence of fur
naces and gas has much to do with their
success as horticulturists.- George
Bliss in New York Times.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
"A Tale OF Socrates.

Alcibiades, having cut of his dogs tail, met
Socrates in his market place, and was rebuked
for his folly.
"Tell me, o Alcibiades, why in the name
Of Jupiter didst thou chop of thy dogs tails'
because it was too long, Socrates. Is not
that reason enough?"
"The reason thou givest is no reason, fool.
For If thou sayest truly, there is as much ar
gument for cutting OFF the end OF thy nose.
Answer me again, Alcibiades, why didst thou
chop off thy dogs tailg"
Again say, D Socrates, the tail of the dog
was too long And now that thou hast chided
me with words that sting like the fangs of
scorpions, let me prove to thee, by the logic
of the sacred academy, that thou art the
greater fool"
snake good thy boast, Alcibiades, or leave
me In peace"
"Hear me then, o Socrates. Thou art the
greater fool because thou hast not cut of
thine own tales. By Jupiter, they are much
too long"-Tid Bits.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Bucklen's Arnfca Salve.

The best Salve in the world for Cuts,
Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Self Rheum,
Fever Sores, letter, Chapped Hands,
Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Erup-
lions. and positively cures Piles, or no
pay required. It is guaranteed to give
perfect Subtraction, or money refunded.
PYice 8 eents par box. For Ale by j.
r. JonooA
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25

Strength. Perhaps, but No INCLINATION.
The old bachelor should remember there Is
one thing he cannot do alone; be cannot kiss
himself. Wit and Hunior. We don't know
so well about that. The man must be badly
broken down physically who hasn't strength
enough left to smack bis own lips.-Mempbis
Avalanche
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
what miss Clereland say..

Rose Elizabeth Cleveland in her last
poem talks about the ''pulpy, pretty
women of the period" She also says;
"a man is just precisely what his food
will make him ~
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
A Want OF Politeness.

Sarah Jane-WelI, Aunt Cruzer, did you
have a nice time at the Bowlers'"
Aunt Cruzer-Nice timei Well, it's the
last time set foot In that house. Why. when
come TO 20. they didn't even say. whath
me- hurry.-HaFperA BaaAE.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Tar as n Fuel.

Tar rs fuel for ocean steamers Is now
talked of, anti a German named Boam, of
Stuttgart, is about to make experiments
with furnace he has designed, on novel
plan, for the purpose.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-02-25
Bv All Means.

The list of New York "society" people
who now write for the press or the maya
tines foots up thirty-two.